If you have been keeping up with our life lately, you may know that I have picked up my hours at work, and am working some in the office. However, I am also still putting in a good number of hours working from home.

People who go to an office 9-5 probably look at work from home folks and thing that they have it easy, but there are so many things that can make working from home a potential disaster. Add a overly curious child to the mix, and it can be hard to get any work done.

Here are some of my trick for sanity and some pieces of hardware that can help get the work done when working from home.

1. Keep a Physical Notebook
​Some of you might be 100% digital folks, but I still believe in the power of paper. I always keep a notebook or note pad next to me when I am working. Especially if I am making phone calls- it makes it easier for me to jot down quotes, phone numbers, etc. If you invest in a nice sturdy journal for work purposes, you might be more likely to keep it nice.

2. Get a Laptop Stand
I got the laptop stand that you see in the photos fromAmazon and it has been a great addition to my work space. I can keep all of my work stuff in one location and it is pretty on the eyes! This particular model has a mouse pad, slots for charging cords, an iPhone or iPad stand, a pen holder, and air flow to prevent your computer from overheating.

3. Find A Fun Way To Remember To Drink Water
When I was working outside of the home, it was easier for me to stay hydrated. Receiving water bottles at meetings, walking by the water fountain, and having a bottle on my desk helped keep me reminded to drink. At home, I find it harder to drink the necessary amount of water. My new system is to keep water bottles filled with cold water and scattered around the house to encourage more water consumption. Cool glass bottles and pretty Camelbaks have a weird effect that make me more likely to use them! If you have to invest in some cute water bottles to help you stay hydrated, do it! I've attached some of my favorites to the shopping list at the bottom of this post.

4. Sit On a Inflatable Exercise Ball
I am adding this here as a reminder to myself as well. My exercise ball is currently deflated and in the storage room, and I want to get it out and start utilizing it during work hours. There are lots of studies that show a benefit to working while sitting on a ball rather than in a chair. If you are making phone calls or working from your phone, an inflatable ball would be a fun addition to your day. You can also take periodic breaks to do crunches or lunges on your ball. I am definitely going to take my own advice and start doing this!

5. Organizer Your Reminders App
The reminders app on an iPhone or Mac is a hidden gem that can help transform your organizational methods. I didn't know until recently that you can make different categories for the different areas of your personal or work life. I currently have a "personal" tab and 1 tab for each of my jobs. My goal is to have every tab at zero by the end of the day. There is also a feature that allows you to share reminder lists with another apple user. This allows you to add task for a whole group or have someone else sending you things to do without clogging up inboxes or text messaging.

6. Utilize Google Drive
CDs, floppy disks, and flash drives are a thing of the past. Every professional should be using Google Drive, Dropbox, or some cloud based storage system for work. I have my Google Drive on my phone and computer so I can access any document at any time from any computer or location. Such a game changer for me. I can be at the park with Oliver and send a document to my boss from my phone.

7. Keep Healthy Snacks In The House
When I am home all day, I SNACK. I have tried ways to stop it, but they all fail. My only option is to make sure the things I snack on are healthy. When there is nothing healthy to snack on, I will make cookies...
Some of my current favorites are: veggie straws, carrot sticks, snap peas, oranges, rice cakes with peanut butter, and celery sticks.

What tips do you have for a successful work from home life?
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Shelby SimoneI am a 26 years old follower of Jesus living in Rhode Island with my 2 little men and wicked handsome husband. I love coffee that doesn't taste like coffee, am really bad at putting on lipstick and vocally wish I could join the CIA. Now that you know a little about me, time to read a whole lot more!